Park City 98: "You Gonna Eat That?", Part Two

First piece of business: well-placed sources say “the press babes are not being fed well.”

Started the day at the Eccles to see “Montana,” well executed but based on a flawed script. In the lobby, I bought a humus/veggie facacio sandwich – whole lot of bread, not much stuff inside, but a bargain at $4.50 and very convenient.

Stopped by the Pogachefsky (PR) office to say high to Laura Kim and beg Michele Robertson for a “Polish Wedding” ticket. Michele said it looked bleak for the ticket; Laura offered me a shot of Cuervo 1800 (smooth). I also ate a few oreo’s.

Went to “Polish Wedding” and scored a seat simply by asking for a press ticket inside the tent. The only solid food was facacio again, so I got another doughy sandwich ($7.00, dinner prices, I guess). It was smoked salmon and onion; tasted good. “Focacio is Italian for bad thick bread” – Lillian Dean, Fortis Films.

The evening began with the “Montana” party at Mulberry’s. The positive: Maker’s Mark Bourbon, only they had signs that wrongly called it Maker’s Mark Scotch. The first hot dish confused both me and Lia Langworthy from Paramount, we couldn’t tell by site if it was fish or chicken. The rubbery texture signaled chicken; I was so hungry for not having dinner that it did the trick. The meatballs and mushrooms weren’t so satisfying. Robbie Coltrain said that he had had a good meal at Zoom, he ate bow-tie pasta with some kind of sauce, “absolutely delicious.” Robbie was talking with Alex Leitzes (age eight), cousin of Montana’s director. His opinion, “the pizza wasn’t that good.”

On the drive to the Clein & White party, I found a box of animal crackers in the car; always exactly the same tasty cookies. Earlier in the evening I had jokingly asked for some lemon sherbet to “cleanse my palet.” I opened their freezer and there was a pint of Hagen Daz Lemon sorbet; I had a wee bit.

We then drove around for a long time, trying to find the “Modulation” party. No such luck. And I had heard that the “Modulation” hosts threw a party last year that served sushi and really old wine. I had my hopes up for that one. Ah well.

Sunday, January 19th:

Started the day at the Library screening of “Price Above Rubies.” That film was so damn good that I don’t care what I eat the rest of the festival. But since my stomach does, I headed over to the OUTFEST brunch at Grub Steaks. I finished off a plate of fresh fruit, downed some hot tea (Bigelow’s Earl Grey, not Twinnings, my fav.) and relaxed… Waiters were cool as well.

Headed to the Yarrow (Corner Cafe) for “Cruelest Month” and had my first sit-down, waitron-served meal. While reading the Sunday comix (couldn’t find Waldo for the life of me), I enjoyed fries and a cripsy fresh Cobb salad (invented in 1936 at the Brown Derby says the menu). A thin chocolate wafer accompanied the bill. The short film before “Cruelest Month”, “Majorettes in Space” is a must-see.

Afternoon cocktails:

Lion’s Gate (CFP) threw a party at the Riverhorse Cafe. Same exact food as the “Real Blonde” party. Immediately headed over to the Zomba Music party at Mercado Mediteraneo and was incredibly pleased with their spread. I wasn’t even hungry when I filled a small plate with a slice of artichoke pizza, toasted pita (lovely) with hummus, babaganoush, tzazki (a youghurt, garlic thing). I was hungrier after the small sampling than before, so I loaded up for more. Co-directors of the short, “About Laughter” hardily agreed that Mercado rocked in the food universe.